Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Nepal News Evening Briefing | Friday, May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025
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KATHMANDU: Stay informed with Nepal News’ daily evening briefing, covering the most significant developments from Nepal and around the world. From politics and economy to sports, entertainment, and culture, we bring you a concise summary of the day’s top stories.

Maoist Centre to Continue House Obstruction Until Home Minister Resigns: The main opposition party, CPN (Maoist Centre), has decided to obstruct all parliamentary proceedings until the Home Minister resigns over alleged involvement in the recent visit visa scandal. The decision was made during a meeting of the party’s top leadership held on Friday in Khumaltar. The party concluded that the minister’s resignation is essential to ensure an impartial investigation into the case. As part of the protest, the Maoist Centre has announced it will not allow any legislative business to proceed, including discussions on the national budget, unless the demand is fulfilled.

Petition Demands Suspension of Judges Who Acquitted Alam: A complaint has been submitted to the Judicial Council seeking investigation and disciplinary measures against two judges who issued a verdict acquitting former Minister Mohammad Aftab Alam and others accused in the Rautahat bomb blast case. The petition claims that Judges Dr. Khusi Prasad Tharu and Arjun Maharjan overlooked crucial pieces of evidence and failed to consider key findings presented by the district court, which had earlier convicted Alam on murder charges. Filed by advocate Yuvraj Paudel, the complaint also calls for a broader review of the judges’ previous decisions.

House of Representatives to Sit for 19 Days Between Jestha 20 and Asar 15: The House of Representatives will convene for 19 days between Jestha 20 and Asar 15, according to the calendar approved by the Business Advisory Committee. Speaker Devraj Ghimire chaired the committee meeting that finalized the parliamentary schedule. As per the endorsed calendar, there will be 10 sittings in Jestha and 9 in Asar. The meetings in Jestha are scheduled for the 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th. In Asar, the House will meet on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, and 12th. This schedule sets the stage for discussions on key legislative agendas and ongoing political issues during the summer session of Parliament.

Royalists Continue Protests for Monarchy and Hindu State on Second Day: Royalist parties and groups demanding the reinstatement of monarchy and a Hindu state continued their indefinite protest on the second day, starting from Jeth 15 (May 29). After holding a rally in Ratnapark on the first day, the demonstrators marched from Maitighar Mandala to New Baneshwor on the second day, chanting slogans in favor of the king. Key royalist leaders, including Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairperson Rajendra Lingden and RPP-Nepal Chairperson Kamal Thapa, joined the protest. The demonstrators were seen carrying umbrellas, symbolically representing the royal crown.

11 SSPs Promoted to DIG in Nepal Police: Eleven Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of Nepal Police) have been promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG). The Police Headquarters officially announced this decision in a notice issued on Friday. Following their promotion, the newly appointed DIGs have been assigned to important departments and key regions across the country. Om Bahadur Rana has been assigned to the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Jayaraj Sapkota to the Operations Directorate, and Sanjeev Sharma Das to the Crime Investigation Directorate. Binod Ghimire has been assigned to the Secretariat of the Inspector General of Police, while Dipendra Gharti Kshetri (GC) will serve at the National Police Training Academy.

Ruling UML Expects Smooth Functioning of Upcoming Parliamentary Sessions: The ruling party, CPN-UML, has expressed confidence that the upcoming sessions of Parliament will proceed smoothly. Speaking to journalists after a discussion held on Friday at Singha Durbar with Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire and chief whips and whips of various parties, UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula shared this expectation. Bartaula stated that with four days remaining before the new session begins, there is still time for dialogue among opposition parties to create a conducive environment for effective parliamentary proceedings. He expressed optimism that meaningful discussions would lead to consensus and help ensure the smooth operation of future sessions.

Foreign Minister Rana and Chinese Counterpart Wang Yi Hold Bilateral Talks, Discuss BRI Cooperation: Nepal’s Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba held a bilateral meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Hong Kong on Friday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a ceremonial event for the signing of a treaty concerning the establishment of an international organization for mediation, to which Nepal was invited as an observer. Minister Rana is in Hong Kong at the invitation of the Chinese government. During the cordial meeting, the two ministers discussed a range of issues including bilateral relations, mutual interests, and matters of shared concern. The talks also touched upon the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and China, which both countries are marking this year.

Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa Meet After 11 Months Amid Concerns Over Communication Gap: After a gap of nearly 11 months, senior Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala and party General Secretary Gagan Thapa held a meeting on Friday morning at Koirala’s contact office in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu. The meeting comes amid growing speculation within the party regarding a communication breakdown between the two influential leaders, both of whom belong to the non-establishment (anti-establishment) faction of the party. Party insiders confirmed that Friday’s discussion marked their first one-on-one dialogue in nearly a year. Previously, the two leaders had reportedly met at the same location to discuss sending ministers from their faction to the KP Sharma Oli-led government, although no concrete agreement had been made public.

SC Issues Interim Order Against Punishing Students for Speaking Nepali in Private Schools: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order in response to a writ petition filed against the practice of punishing students for speaking the Nepali language in private schools. On Friday, a single bench of Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued an order directing schools not to prohibit students from speaking in Nepali or take disciplinary action for doing so. Law students Ayush Badal, Smriti Adhikari, and Bibek Bakhrel had filed the writ petition, stating that some private schools were punishing students—through beatings or fines—for speaking Nepali. They argued that such actions were unconstitutional.

Monsoon Arrives 15 Days Early in Nepal: Nepal has witnessed an early onset of the monsoon season this year, arriving 15 days ahead of the average date. According to a statement issued by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology on Friday, the monsoon entered Nepal on the night of May 29, beginning from the eastern region and spreading across most parts of Koshi Province. Director General of the Department, Kamal Ram Joshi, stated that while the average onset date for monsoon in Nepal is June 13, this year it began significantly earlier. As a result, light to moderate monsoon rainfall has already been recorded in several weather stations across Koshi Province.

Government Declares Public Holiday in Kathmandu Valley on Sunday: The government has announced a public holiday in the Kathmandu Valley on coming Sunday. Issuing a statement on Friday, Home Ministry spokesperson Ram Chandra Tiwari informed that a public holiday has been declared in the three districts of the Valley on the occasion of the Bhoto Jatra of Machhindranath. The statement also mentioned that the notice regarding the public holiday for Bhoto Jatra had already been published in the Nepal Gazette on Falgun 15, 2081 BS (February 27, 2025).

Senior Journalist Bijay Chalise Passes Away at 74: Senior journalist and literary figure Bijay Chalise passed away on Friday morning at the age of 74. He was the former Editor-in-Chief and Chairperson of the government’s official daily newspaper, Gorkhapatra, and the founding chairperson of Press Chautari Nepal. Chalise had been ill for some time, and he died during treatment. According to his family, his funeral will be held on Friday at Gokarneshwor Ghat. The late Chalise was also a scholar in mass communication and journalism, having published several books related to media, journalism, and literature.

Finance Minister Paudel Claims Budget Will Boost Economic Activities and Private Investment: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has stated that the budget unveiled on Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26) will enhance economic activities in the country. Speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance on Friday, Minister Paudel emphasized that if the new budget is effectively implemented, it will lead to increased private sector investment. He also noted that the budget will create more employment opportunities and, if infrastructure projects are completed on time, Nepal’s economic growth will gain momentum. Minister Paudel projected a 6% economic growth rate under the new budget and expressed satisfaction over the feedback received so far.

Nepal Received Rs 1.445 trillion in Remittances from Foreign Employment Last Fiscal Year: Nepal received a total of Rs 1.445 trillion in remittances from foreign employment in the last fiscal year. According to Ram Pramesh Mandal, Program Officer at SaMi-Helvetas Nepal, more than 7.2 million youths have gone abroad for foreign employment after obtaining labor permits between Fiscal Year 2063/64 (2006/07) and 2080/81 (2023/24). Among them, the highest number—172,861 individuals—were from Madhesh Province. Based on data from Baisakh 2082, around 2,600 people are leaving the country daily in search of employment opportunities abroad. In Baisakh alone, 746 individuals from Bhojpur district went overseas.

Rastriya Banijya Bank Tops Income Growth Among Public Financial Institutions: Among public financial institutions, Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) showed the highest income growth. According to the Public Institutions Annual Status Review 2082, the total operating income of 10 financial institutions increased by 3.27% to RS. 9.066 billion compared to the previous fiscal year, with RBB leading this growth, Finance Minister Paudel said in parliament.

Government Prepares to End Printing of National ID Cards: The government is preparing to stop the physical printing of national identity cards. The currently physically printed and distributed cards will be converted into digital cards, ceasing physical card printing. Yuvraj Kattel, Director General of the Department of National Identity Card and Registration, says the department is preparing the legal and procedural frameworks. The department is responsible for collecting data and printing the cards. Currently, chips and QR codes are embedded on the printed cards, and chips require physical printing.

Government Estimates RS 1.315 Trillion Revenue Collection for Next Fiscal Year: The government estimates revenue collection of Rs. 1.315 trillion for the upcoming fiscal year to be deposited into the federal consolidated fund. Of this, RS. 165 billion is targeted to be transferred to lower levels of government. Accordingly, the current fiscal year government must collect RS. 1.48 trillion, which is 4% higher than the current target. However, this target is much higher than the revised revenue collection estimate and actual revenue collected so far.

Film ‘Pari’ Begins with Script Worship Ceremony: The film Pari, written and directed by Govinda Gautam, has officially commenced amidst an auspicious ceremony and traditional worship rituals for its success. The script worship and formal launch took place on Friday at the Ganesh Temple in Kamaladi, Kathmandu. The ceremony was graced by lead actors Kiran KC, Deepa Shree Niraula, Laxmi Giri, Deepak Adhikari, and Renu Dulal, among others. In addition to Kiran and Deepa, the film boasts a diverse cast including Priyanka Karki, Nidesh DC, Digvijay KC, Shyam Rai, Ghanshyam Giri, Deepak Adhikari, Renu Dulal, Sangam Gautam, Jessica Pokhrel, Nisha Gautam, and Arnav Nagil.

Government to Encourage Private Sector to Build Indoor and Outdoor Film Studios: The government has announced plans to encourage the private sector to construct indoor and outdoor studios for film shooting. Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel made the announcement on Thursday while presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2082/83 BS in Parliament. “The private sector will be encouraged to build indoor and outdoor studios for the shooting of domestic and international films that reflect Nepal’s art, culture, civilization, and geographical diversity,” the budget statement read.

Acting-Based Reality Show ‘Acting Star’ Begins Broadcasting: The acting-based reality show Acting Star has officially started airing. The show premiered on Thursday and is being broadcast simultaneously on AP1 Television and OSR Reality. After announcing digital auditions a few months ago to search for contestants, Acting Star will now air regularly every Thursday at 9 PM. The show has already completed its pre-judging and physical audition rounds. The panel of judges includes renowned personalities Nir Shah, Anup Baral, and Richa Sharma.

Rs 6.08 billion Allocated for Youth and Sports Ministry: The Government of Nepal has allocated Rs 6.08 billion to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the fiscal year 2082/83. As per the new budget, the government plans to increase investment in infrastructure development and the promotion of professionalism. The budget includes Rs 420 million for the construction of an international stadium in Jhapa and Rs 400 million for the upgrading of the Kirtipur Cricket Ground. A grant will also be provided for the construction of the Chitwan Cricket Stadium. Furthermore, Rs 540 million has been allocated for the successful organization of the 10th National Sports Tournament to be held in Karnali Province.

‘Samba’ and Rekha Paudel Join Nepal National Football Team Directly in Thailand: Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ and Rekha Paudel have directly joined the Nepal national football team in Thailand. Nepal will play two matches against the home team in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand — the first on May 30 and the second on June 2. Only the second match will be recognized as an official international match. Both of these matches are being played as preparation for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying competition. Samba and Rekha joined the team on Thursday for these games.

Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship to Begin from Coming Tuesday: The Nepal Amateur Open Golf Championship is set to begin from this coming Tuesday. Organized by the Nepal Golf Association, the 11th edition of the championship will be held at Gokarna Golf Club from Tuesday to Thursday. In this three-day championship, players from five South Asian countries — Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and India — will compete in a 54-hole contest. The organizers shared this information at a press conference held today. From Nepal, Sadhbhav Acharya and Rahul BK will play in Team A. The selection for Team B is yet to be finalized.

OPDs See Rush as COVID Cases Rise in India: Coronavirus cases are once again rising in India, prompting states to ramp up preventive measures such as increased COVID-19 testing and preparation of hospital beds. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) earlier stated that the variants currently circulating in the country are associated with mild symptoms. Among the Omicron subvariants detected are LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1. As monsoon-related respiratory illnesses rise, distinguishing COVID from the flu has become a clinical priority. Health officials have intensified surveillance and testing for COVID-19 in light of rising influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI), especially in urban clusters.

White House Vows Supreme Court Fight Over Trump Tariff Ruling: The Trump administration has threatened to escalate its tariffs dispute to the Supreme Court after a court ruling overturned many of the president’s new import duties. The administration is demanding that the decision be suspended. White House Press Secretary Karine Leavitt declared, “We will win this battle in court”, in a press briefing and said the administration is working to “tackle rogue judges.” When asked why other countries would continue trade negotiations amid the legal uncertainty, she said the U.S. trade ambassador had heard from countries that morning confirming their intention to continue working with the United States.

Macron Calls Recognizing Palestinian State a ‘Moral Duty’: French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that European countries should “harden the collective position” against Israel if it does not respond appropriately to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. With international pressure mounting on Israel over the deepening hunger crisis in Gaza, Macron said action was needed “in the next few hours and days”. He also asserted recognition of a Palestinian state with conditions was “not only a moral duty, but a political necessity”. If there was no response in line with the humanitarian situation in Gaza “in the coming hours and days … we will have to harden our collective position,” Macron said on a visit to Singapore.